Puri: Chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra near completion ahead of annual Rath Yatra festival
Jagannath Temple Administration on Friday informed that like last year, this year also Rath Yatra festival will be organized without the participation of devotees and strictly following the safety protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus. According to Puri Jagannath Temple administrator Ajay Jena, servitors who test negative for Covid-19 will be allowed to participate in chariot pulling.
“Like last year, this year also Rath Yatra will be organized without devotees on 12th July 2021 as per Supreme Court order and SOP issued by Odisha Government. No devotee was allowed to participate in Rath Yatra. RT- People who are PCR negative and fully vaccinated will be allowed to attend the yatra. Around 1,000 officers, excluding police personnel, will be deployed,” Jena said.
According to the administrator, three thousand ‘sevayat’ (servants) and 1000 temple officials will be allowed to perform all the rituals and RTPCR tests are underway at four places in Puri from July 8.
Rath Yatra is a festival associated with Lord Jagannath held annually at Puri in the state of Odisha.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court dismissed a batch of petitions seeking a direction to conduct the Rath Yatra not only at the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha, as permitted by the Odisha state government in its order earlier.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana said, “This year more people died, and last year, less number of people died.” Conduct Rath Yatra not only in Puri, but in many cities of Odisha.
The Odisha state government had granted and granted permission to conduct the Rath Yatra only at the Puri Jagannath Temple with strict COVID-19 restrictions and protocols.
(with ANI inputs)
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